Civil Rights Leader Jesse Jackson Dies at 84, Remembered for Historic Legacy

In Brief

Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights activist and political figure, died Tuesday at age 84, his family announced.

Key Facts

• Jesse Jackson died on Tuesday at the age of 84, according to his family
• Jackson witnessed the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee, as reported by The Guardian
• He ran for the Democratic presidential nomination twice, bringing civil rights issues into the party, according to The Guardian
• Jackson was present at Barack Obama's 2008 election victory celebration in Chicago, as shown in archival CBS News footage
• Barack and Michelle Obama publicly remembered Jesse Jackson following his death, CBS News reported

What Happened

Rev. Jesse Jackson, a civil rights activist and two-time Democratic presidential candidate, died on Tuesday at age 84, according to his family. He was known for his involvement in the civil rights movement, including witnessing Martin Luther King's assassination, and for his efforts to incorporate civil rights issues into Democratic Party politics. Archival footage shows Jackson at Barack Obama's 2008 election victory celebration.

Why It Matters

Jackson's life connected significant moments in American civil rights history, from the 1960s movement to the election of the first Black president, according to The Guardian. His presidential campaigns brought civil rights concerns into the Democratic Party's platform. His death has prompted public remembrances from political figures including Barack and Michelle Obama.